News from March 15, 2025 at 2 PM

US President Donald Trump praised the talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the US-proposed ceasefire deal in Ukraine as 'good and productive'. Following a meeting between Putin and US envoy Steve Witkoff in Moscow, the Kremlin expressed 'cautious optimism' about the peace process. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accused Putin of trying to prolong talks to continue the war, while UK PM Sir Keir Starmer insisted Putin could not be allowed to 'play games' with ceasefire proposals. Ukraine has accepted the US-proposed ceasefire, but Russia has yet to agree. Putin set tough conditions for peace, which Zelensky labeled 'manipulative'. Zelensky criticized Putin for sabotaging diplomacy. Sir Keir will host a video call to advance a peacekeeping mission. The White House believes the sides have 'never been this close to peace'. Trump urged Putin to spare Ukrainian troops, while Ukraine denied its forces were encircled. G7 members in Quebec supported the US ceasefire proposal and called for a ceasefire with 'no conditions'.

Former Bank of Canada and Bank of England governor Mark Carney will be formally sworn in as Canada's prime minister on Friday. In the presence of Governor General Mary Simon, representing King Charles, Canada's head of state, Carney will take the oath of office at 11 a.m. ET. At 59, Carney becomes the first Canadian prime minister without significant political experience, having won the Liberal Party leadership race on Sunday to succeed Justin Trudeau, who served over nine years. Carney stated he is ready to meet U.S. President Donald Trump if Canadian sovereignty is respected and will maintain retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods. Liberal insiders suggest Carney will call a snap election soon; if he doesn't, opposition parties threaten to topple the minority Liberal government in a March confidence vote.

On March 11, Palestinians passed by the rubble of destroyed houses in Gaza City. On March 14, Hamas announced that it had received a proposal from mediators to restart Gaza ceasefire negotiations and had agreed to it. Hamas also stated that it agreed to release Mr. Edan Alexander, an Israeli American hostage, and will release the bodies of four other hostages.

The United States has expelled South Africa's ambassador to Washington, Ebrahim Rasool, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio stating he is 'no longer welcome in our great country.' Rubio accused Rasool on X of hating America and President Donald Trump, labeling him a 'race-baiting politician.' South Africa's presidential office called the decision 'regrettable' but affirmed its commitment to a mutually beneficial relationship with the US. This rare move by the US marks the latest escalation in tensions between the two nations. Rubio cited a Breitbart article quoting Rasool's critical remarks about the Trump administration during an online lecture. Last month, Trump signed an executive order freezing aid to South Africa over alleged 'egregious actions' and 'unjust racial discrimination' against white Afrikaners. The South African government has denied these claims. The White House accused South Africa of 'blatantly discriminating against ethnic minority descendants of settler groups.' The expulsion of a senior diplomat like a foreign ambassador is highly unusual in the US.

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani announced the killing of senior Islamic State (IS) leader Abdallah Makki Muslih al-Rifai, also known as Abu Khadijah, in a joint operation by Iraqi national intelligence service and US-led coalition forces. US President Donald Trump described him as 'one of the most dangerous terrorists.' The US Central Command (Centcom) conducted a precision airstrike in Iraq's western Al Anbar province on Thursday, eliminating this key IS figure. Al-Rifai was responsible for IS's global operations, logistics, and planning, and controlled significant financial resources. Another IS operative was also killed in the operation; both were found with unexploded 'suicide vests' and multiple weapons. Their identities were confirmed through a DNA match from a previous raid where Al-Rifai had narrowly escaped.

According to CNN, former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte attended his first hearing at the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague via video link on September 14. Duterte, located in the ICC detention center, briefly confirmed his identity. Presiding Judge Motosuke informed him of the charges of murder, constituting crimes against humanity, allegedly committed in the Philippines between November 1, 2011, and March 16, 2019. Duterte's lawyer claimed he was kidnapped and unable to participate due to health issues, but court doctors deemed him fit. His daughter, Vice President Sara Duterte, arrived at the ICC to support him and requested a postponement of the hearing, which was denied. Under ICC rules, suspects can request temporary release or challenge prosecutorial evidence, with the trial process potentially lasting months or years.

On March 14, China, Russia, and Iran held a meeting in Beijing on the Iranian nuclear issue, chaired by Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu, with Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov and Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi in attendance. The three parties issued a joint statement calling for the abandonment of unilateral sanctions and other actions that could escalate the situation around Iran's nuclear program. They emphasized the importance of implementing UN Security Council Resolution 2231 and urged relevant parties to refrain from actions that could exacerbate the situation, instead creating conditions conducive to diplomatic efforts.

Tesla recently wrote to the Trump Administration, expressing concerns that current tariff policies could make the company a target for retaliatory actions by other countries. The letter urges the government to consider U.S. exports when implementing trade measures to avoid harming domestic businesses. Tesla points out that the tariff war could lead to high tariffs on essential components, recommending a reassessment of domestic supply chain limitations. Reuters reports that Tesla's concerns reflect those of many U.S. companies, drawing particular attention due to its leadership by Trump ally Elon Musk. Insiders reveal that current tariff policies are hurting Tesla, and the company had sent a similar letter during Trump's first term.

The U.S. Senate was poised on Friday to pass a stopgap spending bill to avert a partial government shutdown, after Democrats conceded in a standoff fueled by anger over President Donald Trump's campaign to reduce the federal workforce. The Republican-controlled House of Representatives had earlier passed the measure, which maintains spending at approximately $6.75 trillion for the fiscal year ending September 30. Democrats expressed frustration with the bill, which would cut spending by about $7 billion and fails to halt Trump's initiative, led by Elon Musk, to curtail congressionally mandated spending and eliminate tens of thousands of jobs. These actions coincide with Trump's ongoing trade war with key U.S. allies, which has triggered a significant stock market sell-off and heightened recession fears. Top Senate Democrat Chuck Schumer, despite his dislike for the bill, stated that the consequences of a government shutdown would be a worse option. Democratic senators struggled with whether to block the bill in protest of its spending priorities or risk government shutdown. Republicans, holding a majority in both chambers, did not view Democratic threats to vote against the measure as serious. Post-shutdown negotiations, Republicans plan to focus on extending and expanding Trump's 2017 tax cuts, boosting border security funding, and cutting other spending, which Democrats warn could endanger the Medicaid program. They also need to raise the debt ceiling by spring or summer to avoid a catastrophic default on the federal government's nearly $36.6 trillion debt.

US influencer Sam Jones faced widespread criticism after being filmed taking a wild baby wombat from its mother in Australia. The video shows Jones picking up the joey by the roadside and running to a car, with the mother in pursuit. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese strongly condemned the act. Jones apologized on Instagram, claiming she intended to keep the animals safe. She also criticized Australia's animal culling laws. The incident sparked outrage, leading Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke to consider revoking her visa, though Jones reportedly left the country voluntarily. Jones, who goes by Samantha Strable, has nearly 95,000 Instagram followers and describes herself as an outdoor enthusiast and hunter.

Columbia University announced on March 13 that it had imposed a range of punishments on students who occupied a campus building during pro-Palestinian protests last spring, including multi-year suspensions, temporary degree revocations, and expulsions. This announcement came a week after the Trump administration canceled $400 million in federal grants due to the university's inadequate response to campus antisemitism. Interim President Katrina Armstrong acknowledged the administration's concerns as legitimate and stated that the university was working with the government to address them. The protests began following the Hamas attack on Israel in October 2023 and demanded divestment from Israeli interests and an end to US military aid to Israel. The Trump administration has vowed to crack down on pro-Hamas protesters, and over the weekend, federal agents detained protest leader Mahmoud Khalil, whose deportation has been temporarily blocked by a federal judge.

SpaceX founder Elon Musk announced on March 15 that the massive Starship rocket will depart for Mars at the end of 2026, carrying Tesla's humanoid robot Optimus. If successful, human landings on Mars could begin as early as 2029. Standing 123 meters tall, Starship is designed to be fully reusable. NASA is also awaiting a modified version of Starship for its Artemis lunar lander program. However, SpaceX faced a setback in March when a Starship prototype test flight ended in an explosion, requiring an FAA investigation before further flights. Despite this, SpaceX's 'fail fast, learn fast' approach has made it the world's dominant launch services provider.

Cuba's Energy and Mines Ministry reported that the country's national electrical grid collapsed late on Friday, causing widespread blackouts in the capital Havana and across the nation. An electrical substation in Havana failed around 8:15 p.m., cutting power to a large area of western Cuba, including the capital. The entire waterfront skyline of Havana was dark, with only a few tourist hotels operating on fuel-fired generators. Social media reports from provinces east and west of the capital indicated that much of the country's 10 million population was without power. This grid failure follows a series of nationwide blackouts late last year that plunged Cuba's fragile and outdated power generation system into near-total disarray, exacerbated by fuel shortages, natural disasters, and economic crisis. Hours-long rolling blackouts have been common for months, and severe shortages of food, medicine, and water have made life increasingly unbearable for many Cubans, leading to record numbers fleeing the island in recent years.

According to sources familiar with the matter and an internal memo seen by Reuters, the Trump administration is considering imposing sweeping travel restrictions on citizens of dozens of countries as part of a new ban. A U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity, cautioned that there could be changes to the list and that it has yet to be approved by the administration, including U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The memo lists a total of 41 countries divided into three groups: those facing full visa suspension, including Afghanistan, Cuba, and Iran; those facing partial visa suspension (affecting tourist, student, and some other visas), including Eritrea and Haiti; and countries recommended for partial suspension if they do not address deficiencies, including Angola and Antigua and Barbuda.

A report commissioned by the UN Human Rights Council accuses Israel of increasingly using sexual and gender-based violence against Palestinians in Gaza and the occupied West Bank, labeling the systematic destruction of maternal and reproductive healthcare facilities as 'genocidal acts'. The report, based on victim testimonies and public hearings, claims such violence is part of Israeli Security Forces' standard procedures. Israel denies the allegations, calling them 'unfounded'. The report also highlights the systematic destruction of reproductive health facilities in Gaza by Israeli forces, leading to deaths of Palestinian women and girls due to lack of medical access.

On March 15, thousands of student demonstrators gathered in the center of Belgrade, Serbia, causing traffic paralysis in most parts of the city. The protesters, carrying Serbian flags and using drums, vuvuzelas, and whistles, were met with police forces deployed along the march route, with some officers blending into the crowd. The protest aimed to block key points in the capital, with major highway interchanges being sealed off from noon, scheduled to peak at 4:00 p.m. GMT. The Tanjug news agency reported that public transport in Belgrade was suspended for the day due to the protests. Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic vowed that the country's leaders would strive to maintain peace and stability despite the pressure from protesters.

On March 14, Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen responded to US President Donald Trump's remarks about annexing Greenland, stating that according to the NATO treaty, the UN Charter, and international law, Greenland is not open to annexation. Trump had said on March 13 at the White House that he believed it would happen. Greenland's outgoing Prime Minister Mute Egede vowed to strongly reject Trump's remarks and called for a meeting of party leaders. Egede continues to lead Greenland as an interim head of government after his party's defeat in the March 11 elections. Jens-Frederik Nielsen, leader of the victorious centre-right Democrats and likely future Greenlandic prime minister, also criticized Trump's statement. Trump had previously proposed buying Greenland during his first term, an idea rejected by both Denmark and Greenlanders. Since returning to power in 2025, Trump has intensified his pursuit of the territory.

An American Airlines flight made an emergency landing in Colorado after catching fire, with all 172 passengers and six crew members safely evacuating the plane. Twelve passengers were treated for minor injuries at the hospital. Passenger Michele Woods recounted that the flight seemed normal at takeoff but she noticed a loud noise from one of the engines while cruising. The US Federal Aviation Administration confirmed the plane diverted to Denver at around 17:15 local time due to engine vibrations. Ingrid Hibbit, another passenger, described the tense experience of evacuating onto the wing, noting that despite the ordeal lasting only 10 minutes, it felt much longer. She and her family, along with other passengers, eventually arrived safely at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport.

US President Donald Trump has reiterated his desire to acquire Greenland and plans to deploy more US troops there. Most Greenlandic party leaders strongly oppose Trump's annexation remarks and call for unity against external pressure. During a meeting with NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, Trump emphasized Greenland's importance to international security, but Stoltenberg stated he did not want NATO involved. Greenland's outgoing Prime Minister Kim Kielsen firmly rejected Trump's proposal. Danish Foreign Minister Anders Samuelsen noted that according to international law, Greenland cannot be annexed. Additionally, Trump aims to regain control over the Panama Canal, with the White House directing the military to develop deployment plans, while the Panamanian government vows to defend its sovereignty.

The United Nations has reported that Iran is using drones and intrusive digital technology to suppress dissent, particularly targeting women who refuse to comply with the Islamic republic's strict dress code. Investigators say Iranian security officials are encouraging people to use specialized phone apps to report women for alleged dress code violations in private vehicles. The report highlights the increasing use of drones and security cameras to monitor hijab compliance in Tehran and southern Iran. Women who defy the laws face severe consequences, including arrest, beating, and even rape in custody. The report also mentions the death in custody of Mahsa Amini in 2022, which sparked ongoing protests. Facial recognition software has been installed at Amirkabir University in Tehran, and surveillance cameras on major roads are used to find women not wearing the hijab. The report will be presented to the Human Rights Council on March 18.

On March 14, 2025, a 79-year-old British man, Edgar Charles Frederick, was killed in a hit-and-run incident involving a vehicle in the motorcade of Kenyan President William Ruto on Ngong Road in Nairobi, Kenya. The driver was detained by police but later released on bail. Police spokesman Michael Muchiri stated that Frederick was visiting Kenya to see his sister and nephew. The victim's family has been informed, and a post-mortem is expected to be conducted on Friday. The incident has sparked outrage on social media, with some questioning the size and speed of the convoy. The UK High Commission said it was aware of the reports and seeking further information.

An 8-year-old girl in Magura, Bangladesh, died from her injuries after being raped, sparking widespread protests across the country. The incident occurred between the night of March 5 and the following morning while the girl was visiting her sister's house. The suspects, including the sister's husband and his family, have been arrested. On Thursday night, an angry mob set fire to the house where the incident allegedly took place. The girl died at around 13:00 local time on Thursday after suffering three cardiac arrests at the Combined Military Hospital in Dhaka. Her body was transported back to Magura by army helicopter, amidst fierce protests. Dhaka University held an absentee funeral followed by protests, demanding the government expedite justice for rape victims and reform laws related to women and children's safety. The trial is expected to begin within seven days, with the rape of minors punishable by death in Bangladesh.

The European Parliament is embroiled in a bribery scandal, with Belgian and Portuguese police detaining suspects accused of lobbying for Chinese tech giant Huawei. None of those detained are EU parliamentarians. On Thursday, about 100 police officers conducted 21 raids in Belgium and Portugal, investigating Huawei's activities in Brussels since 2021. Suspicions include Huawei lobbyists bribing MEPs with football tickets, luxury goods, and expensive trips to China. Fifteen former and current MEPs are under scrutiny. Huawei has stated a zero-tolerance policy on corruption and pledged to cooperate with the investigation. This case echoes the 'Qatar Gate' scandal that hit the EU Parliament over two years ago.

Canada has filed a complaint with the World Trade Organization (WTO) against the US steel and aluminum tariffs. President Donald Trump insists on implementing reciprocal tariffs as planned on April 2. The WTO confirmed receiving Canada's complaint and distributed it to its members. Canadian Minister Chrystia Freeland stated that US tariffs violate the USMCA and WTO agreements. US Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross met with Canadian officials to discuss the tariffs, but Trump remained firm. Additionally, Trump announced 200% tariffs on EU alcoholic beverages, prompting strong reactions from the EU. European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde warned that the tariff dispute could negatively impact global economic growth.